Car-coupling



(No Model.)

A. C.1VIARTIN.

- GAR- GOUPLING.

No. 472,582. Patented Apr. 12, 1892.

Zzyezzm/ MMM/m 720%,

.bww MMA.

- supports for said coupling device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER C. MARTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 472,582, dated April12, 1892.

Application filed June 25, 1891. Serial No. 397.489. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom', it may concern:

Be it known that IJ ALEXANDER C. MARTIN, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Car-Couplers, of which the followingisa full, clear, andeXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this speciiif cation, in which* Figure l is a sideview, partly in section, of a car-coupler embodying the features of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof, the draw-heads beingpartly'shown in horizontal section; and Fig. 3 is a detail view showinga niodiiicationvof the coupling hook and link.

'Like letters of reference in the different iigures designatecorresponding parts.

My invention relates to car-couplers, and embodies an improvement uponLetters Patent No. 436,796, granted to me September 23, 1890. In saidLetters Patent I have shown a coupling device consisting of an elbowpivotally mounted inveach draw-head and provided With a hook upon onearm and a slot or opening in the other to receive the hook in theopposite draw-head. This construction affords great freedom of action toconform to the vertical movement of the draw-heads; but the hooks may bedisplaced from the normal position when not desired.

The object of my present invention is to provide a car-couplerpossessing all the advantages of movement of that described in saidpatent, While it may retain a normal vposition with less danger ofbecoming accidentally or carelessly displaced from the normal position,all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referringhto the drawings, ci represents a draw-bar head which is openat the top and Within which is pivotally mounted a coupling device b,consisting of a single piece, preferably in the form of a link and Whichembodies both a hook and link, the hook c being upon one end and thelink dupon the other. Nearest to the end forming the linkcZIplacetrunnions e e, which are mounted in suitable bearings in thehead, and thereby form the pivotal I prefer to-form a Web f in saidcoupling device approaching as near to said trunnions as may beconvenient, in order to stiften the same and prevent it from springinglaterally. A crossbar g is formed in the head, which serves as a supportfor the coupling device b when thrown back, as clearly shown inthedrawings. Operating-bars h 71. are attached to the trunnions by meansot' universal joints t', and are connected to the body of the car, sothat the coupling device maybe operated from either side of the car. Ahalf-revolution of the operatating-bars serves to couple or uncouple thedraw-bar heads from each other.

One important advantage of my improved device as constructed is that thelink or part d is normally sustained in a horizontal or substantiallyhorizontal position for the reception of the hook, while at the sametime it permits of a free vertical play of the draw-bar heads. The partd may also serve, when desired, in connection with the socket j, tosupport a coupling-pin for connection with an ordinary link. It isobvious that the part cl may be jointed at the pivotal point, asindicated in Fig. 3, so as to permit a limited movement thereofindependently of that of the hook, While at the same time the Weight ofthe latter may serve to sustain it normally in a horizontal orsubstantially horizontal position; but I prefer the construction shownin Figs. l and 2.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination, with adraw-bar, the head of which is closed at the bottom and open at thefront and top, respectively, of a coupling device pivotally mountedWithin said head, said coupling device having a hook o formed upon oneend and a loop ol upon the other and arranged to rest normally in ahorizontal or nearly horizontal position within the head, the pivotalpoint being near the end in which the loop is formed, and means fortilting the same upon its pivot, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of opposite draw-bars which are open at the front andtop, respectively, and closed at the bottom, coupling-pins pivotallymounted Within said heads, each In testimony whereof I have signed thishaving` a hook upon one end and aloop upon specification, in thepresence of t-Wo subsorib IO the other, the pivotal point being nearestto ing witnesses, this 18th day of J une, 1891.

the loop, means for sustaining the same nor- T o 5 mally in horizontalpositions or substantially ALEXAB DER C' MAI IN so within said heads,and means for tilting Witnesses: the same upon their pivots,substantially as D. 1I. FLETCHER, shown and described. JOS. BINGHAM.

